The Nature, Mission and Identity of : Selections from Church Documents on Education

Inspired by a supernatural vision Founded on Christian anthropology Animated by communion and Imbued with a Catholic worldview Sustained by Gospel witness community throughout the curriculum No less than other schools does the Catholic For a true education aims at the formation But its proper function is to create for the Among all educational instruments the Beautiful indeed and of great importance school pursue cultural goals and the human of the human person in pursuit of his school community a special atmosphere has a special importance.(19) It is designed not is the vocation of all those who aid parents formation of youth. But its proper function is ultimate end and of the good of the animated by the Gospel spirit of freedom only to develop with special care the in fulfilling their duties and who, as to create for the school community a special societies of which, as man, he is a and charity…- Declaration on Christian intellectual faculties but also to form the representatives of the human community, ability to judge rightly, to hand on the cultural atmosphere animated by the Gospel spirit of member, and in whose obligations, as an Education, #8 undertake the task of education in schools. legacy of previous generations, to foster a freedom and charity, to help youth grow adult, he will share. - Declaration on This vocation demands special qualities of sense of values, to prepare for professional according to the new creatures they were Christian Education, #1 life. Between pupils of different talents and mind and heart, very careful preparation, made through as they develop their backgrounds it promotes friendly relations and and continuing readiness to renew and to own personalities, and finally to order the fosters a spirit of mutual understanding; and it adapt. - Declaration on Christian whole of human culture to the news of establishes as it were a center whose work and Education, #5 so that the knowledge the students progress must be shared together by families, gradually acquire of the world, life and man She establishes her own schools because By its very nature, the Catholic school teachers, associations of various types that Canon #803 §2. The instruction and is illumined by faith. - Declaration on she considers them as a privileged means requires the presence and involvement of foster cultural, civic, and religious life, as well education in a Catholic school must be Christian Education, #8 of promoting the formation of the whole educators that are not only culturally and as by civil society and the entire human grounded in the principles of Catholic man, since the school is a centre in which spiritually formed, but also intentionally community. Declaration on Christian doctrine; teachers are to be outstanding in a specific concept of the world, of man, directed at developing their community Education, #5 correct doctrine and integrity of life. and of history is developed and conveyed. educational commitment in an authentic The Catholic School,# 8 spirit of ecclesial communion. Educating Together in Catholic Schools, #34 For this reason the Catholic school, in …a school is not only a place where one is These premises indicate the duties and the But let teachers recognize that the Catholic Christ is the foundation of the whole educational committing itself to the development of given a choice of intellectual values, but content of the Catholic school. Its task is school depends upon them almost entirely enterprise in a Catholic school. His revelation the whole man, does so in obedience to the a place where one has presented an array fundamentally a synthesis of culture and faith, for the accomplishment of its goals and gives new meaning to life and helps man to direct solicitude of the Church, in the awareness of values which are actively lived. The and a synthesis of faith and life: the first is programs. They should therefore be very his thought, action and will according to the that all human values find their fulfillment school must be a community whose values reached by integrating all the different aspects carefully prepared so that both in secular of human knowledge through the subjects Gospel, making the beatitudes his norm of life. and unity in Christ. This awareness are communicated through the and religious knowledge they are equipped The fact that in their own individual ways all taught, in the light of the Gospel; the second in expresses the centrality of the human interpersonal and sincere relationships of with suitable qualifications and also with a members of the school community share this the growth of the virtues characteristic of the Christian vision, makes the school "Catholic"; person in the educational project of the its members and through both individual Christian. The Catholic School, #37 pedagogical skill that is in keeping with The Catholic School, # 34 Catholic school, strengthens its and corporative adherence to the outlook the findings of the contemporary world. educational endeavor and renders it fit to on life that permeates the school. -The Intimately linked in charity to one another form strong personalities. The Catholic Catholic School, # 32 and to their students and endowed with an School on the Threshold of the Third apostolic spirit, may teachers by their life Millennium, # 9 as much as by their instruction bear The Council, therefore, declared that what makes The Catholic school is committed thus to The model that school structures must take as A Catholic school must be committed to witness to Christ, the unique Teacher. the Catholic school distinctive is its religious the development of the whole man, since their inspiration is the educating community, a the development of a program which will Declaration on Christian Education, # 8 dimension, and that this is to be found in a) the in Christ, the Perfect Man, all human place of differences living together in overcome the problems of a fragmented educational climate, b) the personal development values find their fulfillment and unity. harmony. The school community is a place for and insufficient curriculum. -The of each student, c) the relationship established Herein lies the specifically Catholic encounter and promoting participation. Religious Dimensions of Education in a between culture and the Gospel, d) the Educating to Intercultural Dialogue in character of the school. The Catholic Catholic School, #55 illumination of all knowledge with the light of Catholic Schools: Living in Harmony for a faith. -The Religious Dimension of Education in School, #35 Civilization of Love, #58 a Catholic School, #1

“A school’s mission is to develop the sense of the true, the sense of the good, the sense of the beautiful.” - Francis, 10 May 2014

Inspired by a supernatural vision Founded on Christian anthropology Animated by communion and Imbued with a Catholic worldview Sustained by Gospel witness community throughout the curriculum This is the basis of a Catholic school's The integral formation of the human The Catholic school, characterized mainly The increased attention given to science Above all the Gospel must be proclaimed by educational work. Education is not given for the person, which is the purpose of education, as an educating community, is a school for and technology must not lead to a neglect witness.- On Evangelization in the Modern purpose of gaining power but as an aid towards a includes the development of all the human the person and of persons. In fact, it aims of the humanities: philosophy, history, World, #21 fuller understanding of, and communion with faculties of the students, together with at forming the person in the integral unity literature and art. Since earliest times, each man, events and things. Knowledge is not to be preparation for professional life, formation of his being, using the tools of teaching society has developed and handed on its considered as a means of material prosperity and of ethical and social awareness, becoming and learning where “criteria of judgment, artistic and literary heritage, and our By their witness and their behavior success, but as a call to serve and to be aware of the transcendental and religious determining values, points of interest, lines human patrimony is nothing more than the teachers are of the first importance to responsible for others. -The Catholic School, education. Lay Catholics in Schools: of thought, sources of inspiration and sum total of this cultural wealth… The impart a distinctive character to Catholic #78 schools. -The Catholic School, #78 Witnesses to Faith, #17 models of life” ]are formed. Above all, artistic and literary patrimony of they are involved in the dynamics of is vast and gives visible interpersonal relations that form and vivify testimony to a faith that has been handed the school community. -Educating down through centuries. Religious Together in Catholic Schools, #13 Dimensions of Education in a Catholic School, #60 While the Catholic school is like any other school Every human being is called to It is also helpful to bear in mind, in Individual subjects must be taught according Most of all, students should be able to in this complex variety of events that make up the communion because of his nature which is harmony with the Second Vatican to their own particular methods. It would be recognize authentic human qualities in their life of the school, there is one essential created in the image and likeness of God Council,(23) that this community wrong to consider subjects as mere adjuncts to teachers. They are teachers of the faith; difference: it draws its inspiration and its strength (cf. Gen 1:26-27). Therefore, within the dimension in the Catholic school is not a faith or as a useful means of teaching however, like Christ, they must also be from the Gospel in which it is rooted. The sphere of biblical anthropology, man is not merely sociological category; it has a apologetics. They enable the pupil to teachers of what it means to be human. - principle that no human act is morally indifferent assimilate skills, knowledge, intellectual an isolated individual, but a person: a theological foundation as well. The Religious Dimensions of Education in a to one's conscience or before God has clear methods and moral and social attitudes, all of being who is essentially relational. The educating community, taken as a whole, is Catholic School, #96 applications to school life: examples of it are which help to develop his personality and lead For the Catholic educator, whatever is true school work accepted as a duty and done with communion to which man is called always thus called to further the objective of a him to take his place as an active member of involves a double dimension, that is to say school as a place of complete formation is a participation in Him who is the Truth; good will; courage and perseverance when the community of man. Their aim is not the communication of truth, therefore, as a difficulties come; respect for teachers; loyalty vertical (communion with God) and through interpersonal relations.-The merely the attainment of knowledge but the toward and love for fellow students; sincerity, horizontal (communion with people). - Catholic School on the Threshold of the acquisition of values and the discovery of professional activity, is thus fundamentally tolerance, and goodness in all relationships. -The Educating Together in Catholic Schools, Third Millennium, #18 truth. -The Catholic School, #39 transformed into a unique participation in Religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic #8 the prophetic mission of Christ, carried on School, #47 through one's teaching. -Lay Catholics in Schools: Witnesses to Faith, #16 If, like every other school, the Catholic School can and must be a catalyst, it must be a The educational mission is carried out in a Literary and artistic works depict the school has as its aim the critical place of encounter and convergence of the spirit of cooperation between various subjects struggles of societies, of families, and of Note: The 5 dimensions which communication of human culture and the entire educating community, with the sole – students, parents, teachers, non-teaching individuals. They spring from the depths total formation of the individual, it works objective of training and helping to develop personnel and the school management – who of the human heart, revealing its lights and comprise the concept of “Catholic towards this goal guided by its Christian mature people who are simple, competent and form the educational community. It can create its shadows, its hope and its despair. The Identity” used in used in this chart honest, who know how to love with fidelity, an environment for living in which the values vision of reality "through which our cultural Christian perspective goes beyond the are those formulated by who can live life as a response to God’s call, are mediated by authentic interpersonal heritage acquires its special place in the total and their future profession as a service to relations between the various members of merely human, and offers more J. Michael Miller, C.S.B. vocational life of man. -The Catholic society. -Educating to Intercultural Dialogue which it is composed. Its highest aim is the penetrating criteria for understanding the in his work The ’s School, 36 human struggle and the mysteries of the in Catholic Schools: Living in Harmony for a complete and comprehensive education of the Teaching on Catholic Schools, Civilization of Love, conclusion person. - Consecrated Person and their human spirit. Religious Dimensions of published for the Solidarity Mission in Schools, #41 Education in a Catholic School, #61 Association by Sophia Institute

“A school’s mission is to develop the sense of the true, the sense of the good, the sense of the beautiful.” - , 10 May 2014